Nicole Miller Embroidered Cotton Mini Dress

An all cotton mini dress is something of a no brainer as far as retro summer clothes go, but this Nicole Miller number stands out from the crowd thanks to the styling.

In a green that's somewhere between grass and olive, the dress immediately looks classic and chic. The fantastic collar detailing gives this an unquantifiably sixties vibe, along with the neat, straight body shape of the dress. Also available in a very feminine coral pink, this dress is the perfect cross between simplicity and sophistication.

Get it online from Bluefly for $165.

Find out more from the website

Retro Monopoly T-shirts by Chunk

Monopoly has, since its patent in 1935, burrowed its way into so many homes across the world that it needs no explanation. Along with its money-centric format, the design of the game's board itself has become classic.

UK men's fashion brand Chunk have clearly stumbled on something clever with their Monopoly branded t-shirts with a twist. Taking the ever present Do Not Pass Go and Free Parking square designs, they've incorporated some slightly risque wit into their retro styled logos.

The t-shirts are now available online from Atlantic Colours for £17.95 each.

Find out more from the website

George Nakashima mid-century Splay-Leg Table for Knoll

A late 1940s classic that looks as sharp today as it did 60 years back - the George Nakashima Splay-Leg Table.

Designed by Nakashima for Knoll back in 1948, the Splay-Leg Table is a mid-century classic, offering a table made of hickory and American walnut, solid brass hardware joints and a contrast veneered surface. Oh yes, and those 'splayed' legs that give the table its name.

Not cheap at £1,414, but almost certainly timeless.

Find out more at the Lollipop Shoppe website

Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips - Only Fools and Horses goes back to the 1960s

Only Fools and Horses might be long gone, but writer John Sullivan is back with a new version of the show that goes back in time to the 1960s - Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Chips.

The BBC today announced the new show, which dates back to 1960s and features Joan Trotter ('Peckham's answer to Brigitte Bardot'), work-shy Reg Trotter, their teenage son Derek (presumably as a mod) and 'art connoisseur' Freddie Rodbal, fresh from a 10-year stretch in prison and ready to ruffle some feathers in the Trotter household. Other familiar faces will include teen versions of Boycie, Trigger, Denzil and Jumbo Mills, no doubt all trying to get a pint in The Nag's Head pub.

Lula Space-Age Bread Bin

The Lula Bread Bin has been designed by Chauhan Studio for Habitat.

According to the sales blurb, it was inspired by desert winds and clouds, but space-age design was the first thing it brought to my mind. It is made from pure white melamine and also has the soft curves beloved of the space-age style. It costs £40.

Visit the Habitat website to take a closer look and find details of your nearest branch.

Normann Copenhagen 70s-style Hang light by Rikke Hagen

Described as being influenced by 'soft retro shapes', the Normann Copenhagen Hang light should be perfect for a 70s-style home.

Carrying a touch of the space age style with all those curves, this Rikke Hagen-designed light is made of metal, with a matt finish on exterior and a gloss finish inside, finished off with a nice chunky cord.

The Danish-made lamp stands around 36.5cm high and retails for £145.

Find out more at the Bodie and Fou website

East End Sign

If you like vintage lettering but still haven’t succumbed to any retro signs, then perhaps Signs for Homes will have something to tempt you, such as this East End Sign.

The wording is created in a typically retro font and was apparently inspired by the designers “days living in the East End and their love for classic gangster movies” – rather than a love of the similarly named soap opera. It is made from brushed steel, measures 22cm high by 95cm and costs £125. There are similar sized designs with other words, including “Made in England”, “New York”, the 50s inspired “Milk Shake” and the most self-referential “Vintage”.

You can buy a sign for your home from Signs for Homes via My Deco.

Retro-style Shells lounge chair by Martin Ballendat

A modern design that oozes mid-century cool - the Shells chair by Martin Ballendat.

It should actually be 'chairs' as there are a number of variations on the theme, with two lounge chairs (like the one above), a side chair and various base options. But the lounge version pictured is certainly our favourite.

We love the metal base frame, not to mention the knitted fabric back and arm support, finished off with some soft seat padding to make a long stay all that bit more enjoyable. See over the page for another variation, with prices starting around the £504 mark.

Find out more at the Within 4 Walls website

Robert Archard's life size biscuit boxes

Robert Archard's biscuit boxes offer the chance to take the taste of childhood with you everywhere you go. Like the Soop China Crumbs plates featured earlier in the week, they celebrate favourite biscuits like jammy dodgers, chocolate bourbons and custard creams. Each ceramic box is shaped and coloured like a different biscuit and, most importantly, is exactly sized to fit the biscuit they represent inside.

A very stylish way to carry your tea time snack to work, each box costs £20. 

Buy them from Beyond the Valley

Mid-century inspired textile wall art from Three Sheets 2 the Wind

Like the Fiona Howard fabrics featured earlier in the week, the American company Three Sheets 2 the Wind uses natural imagery to recall mid-century textile designs. The design pictured is called Seedlings and is available as an 8 x 8 inches textile print for the wall. 

Made by hand silk screening onto Irish linen, Seedlings comes in several different colour combinations, all also influenced by nature – the colours used in the image are called 'celery' and 'bark'. This piece costs $30 but they have many other similarly inspired designs for sale which extend to use on pillows and bedlinen.

See it online

Vaso Pendant Light

The Vaso Pendant Light combines steel with smoke coloured glass to create an atmospheric piece of lighting that brings to mind retro interiors.

Whilst a good bit of lighting is always welcome, even better is the fact that it is currently on offer at Danetti, reduced from just under £45 to £34.99. There is a also a table lamp version of the Vaso Light available, also on sale, priced just under £25. The table lamp is also available with amber coloured glass too.

To buy, visit the Danetti website.

Orange Retro Swivel Chair

Described simply as an Orange Retro Swivel Chair, there isn’t much information available about this item, but what more do you need to know?

It is a rather comfortable looking chair, upholstered in a retro patterned fabric. The fabric combines shades of orange and brown, always a good combination for invoking a retro feel.

The chair costs just over £405 and can be bought online from Feature Deco.

Beverly Hills Vamp Dress from Mode Merr

Mode Merr just keep their ultra sexy fifties looks coming, creating fantastic eveningwear with real rockabilly credentials. This Beverly Hills Vamp Dress is one of their most daring looks yet, but still manages to look every inch the wearable frock.

Made from a heavy stretch satin, this all over leopard print avoids being too tacky thanks to the very retro styling. A figurehugging skirt and high boatneck collar cover up just enough to tread the fine line of minxy dress.

Get it online from Mode Merr now for $84.

Find out more from the website

Retro Linen Suit Separates from Next

While retro eveningwear is relatively easy to get your hands on, for those of us wanting to continue our devotion through the daytime it can be trickier. Next's workwear ranges are catching on to classic design with these Linen Suit Separates.

Made from a great sixties shade of pale green linen, this daytime skirt suit has subtle vintage looks that make it both professional and chic. The jacket is the real star with its peter pan collar and six button double breasted design. Cutesy short sleeves provide practicality along with a girlish 60s look.

Get yours from Next for £70 for the set.

Find out more from the website

Heals 1960s style Scoop TV table

Heals are selling this Scoop TV table, a stylish way to display your telly in 1960s style. In great space age colours and materials, the table is made up of a combination of a lacquered white body with grey glass shelf which is perched atop a chrome pedestal base. 

The table measures 80cm wide by 51cm high and costs £250. All that's missing is a sleek TV to match. 

Buy it online

FAP See America posters

The Federal Art Project (FAP) was one of Roosevelt's New Deal schemes in Depression America, employing artists and designers to produce public art. They created a wide variety of works including a range of over 2000 posters between 1936 and 1943. These designs included the See America posters which used dramatic looking images of America's National Parks to promote travel and tourism. 

The image shown here is the work of Alexander Dux to advertise the Caves National Park. It's available to buy as a reproduction from the Library of Congress who have a large selection of the FAP posters for sale. Costs for the posters range from $28 to £48, depending on the size of the print. 

See it online

Vitra EA108 swivel chair by Charles and Ray Eames

When you buy a design as an investment piece, it's nice to know it will last - and that's the case with the Vitra EA108 swivel chair by Charles and Ray Eames, which comes with a 30-year guarantee.

Yes, this 1950s chair (specifically dating back to 1958) will be fixed (or replaced) by Vitra at any point in the next 30 years. Which means you can swivel round as much as you like without the worry of seeing your investment fall apart before your very eyes.

Oh yes - and it's a design classic too - perfect for an easy or office chair, complete with a die-cast aluminium frame and a choice of hopsak, leather or netweave in a variety of colours for the finish. Prices start at £1,256.

Find out more at the Twenty Twenty One website

Furni x Mumble 1980s-style digital watch

We love Furni watches, you may remember we've featured both the Cool Hunting and Raised by Wolves collaborations in the past. And now we have another new one, offering the same 80s styling and the same value for money - the Furni x Mumble digital watch.

An eye-catching timepiece, it offers that 80s styling, along with 'bling' gold buttons, clasp and watch back, stopwatch, alarm, 12/24-hour time, some water resistance and a clear plastic case with a 1-inch 'I am a Contributor' button.

The watch has been made in association with Club Mumble, which features influences of contemporary art, skateboarding and street culture, with a portion of every watch sale going to a campaign that gives skateboards to underprivileged youth across Canada. And that price? Just $24, which is a ridiculously cheap £14.50. See over the page for another image.

Find out more at the Furni website

Retro TV W/C 3rd July 2009

Barry Murphy returns once more trawl the TV and radio guides (so you don't have to) to find anything worth tuning into this week. All listings are for UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from Friday 3rd July to Thursday 9th July 2009.

Highlights of the week 

After ten years away from the spotlight, legendary Motown star and R&B innovator Stevie Wonder returned with a two-night residency at London O2 arena last September. Stevie Wonder: Live at Last (Friday 3rd. BBC 2. 11.35pm) includes classic tracks Living for the City, Higher Ground, My Cherie Amour, I Wish, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) and Superstition. Plus Isn't She Lovely performed with his daughter Aisha Morris.

This week on the radio, blues veteran John Mayall traces the explosion of the blues and R&B in Britain in the early 1960s, with contributions from Bill Wyman, Zoot Money and Eric Burdon in John Mayall's Blues Adventures (Tuesday 7th, BBC Radio 4. 1.30pm).

Friday 3rd July

TV

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) - ITV 4. 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Jeff discovers a plot to kidnap the heir to a fortune

On the Buses - ITV 3. 6.55pm - 7.25pm
Stan and Jack decide to get fit.

Carry On Laughing - ITV 3. 7.25pm - 8.00pm
Comedy sketches.

The Professionals - ITV 4. 8.00pm - 9.00pm
Bodie and Doyle race to identify an assassin.

Sight and Sound in Concert: Thin Lizzy - BBC 4. 10.00pm - 10.35am
Phil Lynott and co perform Jailbreak, Cold Sweat and The Boys Are Back in Town, from 1983.

More Guitar Heroes at the BBC - BBC 4. 10.35pm - 11.35pm (Repeated 12.30am)
New. Archive performances by celebrated musicians Jimi Hendrix, Pete Townshend, Peter Green and Johnny Winter. Other performers featured include Manitas De Plata, Ry Cooder and Thin Lizzy, while Fleetwood Mac's Albatross and In the City by the Jam are among the classic songs performed.

Film: Magnum Force (1973) - ITV 1. 10.35pm - 12.50am
All-guns-blazing crime thriller starring Clint Eastwood as San Francisco cop "Dirty"Harry Callahan. Prominent local criminals are being killed off in a series of murders where the weapon is always the same: the .357 Magnum. As the investigation gets under way, Callahan and his boss have conflicting ideas about who is responsible.

Flight of the Conchords (8/10) - BBC 4. 11.35pm - 12Midnight
Series two. New Zealand Town. The prime minister creates New Zealand Town between Chinatown and Little Italy, but when the Conchords ask to play at the opening, he insists the event deserves a cooler guest.

Stevie Wonder: Live at Last - BBC 2. 11.35pm - 12.35am
After ten years away from the spotlight, the legendary Motown star and R&B innovator returned with a two-night residency at London O2 arena last September. Classic tracks include Living for the City, Higher Ground, My Cherie Amour, I Wish, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours) and Superstition. Plus Isn't She Lovely performed with his daughter Aisha Morris.

Radio

Colour My World: the Tony Hatch Story (3/3) - BBC Radio 2. 7.00pm - 7.30pm
Radio 2's profile of the man who wrote Downtown concludes with his TV work, including themes for Crossroads (1964), Man Alive (1965), Emmerdale (1972) and Neighbours (1985). Plus a look at his Simon Cowell-like persona on 1970s talent show New Faces.

Saturday 4th July

TV

Film: A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) - Film4. 2.40pm - 4.25pm
An imaginative young boy growing up in London's impoverished East End in the 1950s, absorbs a tale about the magical power of captured unicorns from the kindly tailor Kandinsky and goes in search of the mythic beast.

Film: Cat Ballou (1965) - BBC 2. 3.50pm - 5.25pm
Comedy western starring Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin. Schoolteacher Catherine Ballou returns home to find her father's life under threat from developers who want his ranch land. To protect him, Catherine assembles a motley bunch of outlaws including Kid Shelleen, an ageing gunfighter with a fondness for alcohol.


Radio

Sounds of the 60s - BBC Radio 2. 8.00am - 10.00am
Brian Matthew spins two hours of hits, B -sides and album tracks. 

The Funk and Soul Show - BBC 6 Music. 6.00pm - 9.00pm
3 hours of funk, soul and blues presented by Craig Charles.

Feelin' Love: the Donna Summer Story - BBC Radio 2. 10.00pm - 11.00pm
Producer and Chic co-founder Nile Rodgers celebrates the career of US R&B-pop diva Donna Summer, who ruled the airwaves and dance clubs during her phenomenal mid-to late 70s reign.

Sunday 5th July

TV

The Day of the Triffids (1&2/6) - BBC 4. 7.00pm - 8.00pm
A repeat showing of the BBC's acclaimed 1981 six-part series, starting with the first 2 episodes back-to-back. A hospital patient wakes up to find London in chaos, with most of the population blinded by a meteorite shower.

Film: The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) - ITV 4. 10.00pm - 12.05am
British horror starring Ralph Bates. Cold-blooded young student Victor Frankenstein steps into his father's shoes to continue his horrific experiments in bringing the dead back to life.

Comedy Classics: Rising Damp - ITV 1. 10.45pm - 11.45pm
A tribute to the 1970s sitcom which starred Leonard Rossiter, as the penny-pinching landlord Rigsby whose lodgers included Don Warrington, Richard Beckinsale and Frances de la Tour. Writer Eric Chappell recalls his inspiration for the series and a classic episode Stage Struck follows.

Film: The Jerk (1979) - ITV 4. 1.05am - 2.40am
Comedy starring Steve Martin. Navin Johnson, the white sheep in a poor black family, leaves home to seek his fortune in the big city. Navin's struggle for fame, his invention of the opti-grab device and the earth-shattering discovery of his "special purpose" are just a small part of the Johnson legend.

Monday 6th July

TV

On the Buses - ITV 3. 6.50pm - 7.20pm
The Luxton Bus Company Social Club hold a darts match.

Carry On Laughing - ITV 3. 7.20pm - 7.55pm
Clips from the Carry On films.

Film: All or Nothing (2002) - BBC 1. 11.20pm - 1.30am
Bleak drama directed by Mike Leigh and starring Timothy Spall. During a long weekend on a run-down South London housing estate, a rag tag group of life's survivors struggle to stay afloat in a sea of social and financial despair.

Tuesday 7th July

TV

On the Buses - ITV 3. 6.50pm - 7.20pm
Stan and Jack look forward to their welcome seasonal breaks.

Carry On Laughing - ITV 3. 7.20pm - 7.55pm
Clips from the Carry On films.

The Professionals - ITV 4. 8.00pm - 9.00pm
Bodie and Doyle are assigned protection duties.

National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) - ITV 4. 10.05pm - 12.20am
John Landis' anarchic comedy starring John Belushi. The students of Delta house have a reputation for wild parties and drinking. As the freshmen arrive on campus, the future of the house comes under threat.

Flight of the Conchords (9/10) - BBC 4. 10.30pm - 10.55pm
New. Series two. Wingmen. Bret falls for a girl working at the pet shop, but shyness thwarts his chance of asking her on a date. Determined to lend a hand, Jermaine enlists the aid of a friendly mugger to help make his band-mate look tough in front of his new love interest.

Radio

John Mayall's Blues Adventures - BBC Radio 4. 1.30pm - 2.00pm
Blues veteran John Mayall traces the explosion of the blues and R&B in Britain in the early 1960s. With contributions from Bill Wyman, Zoot Money and Eric Burdon.

All of Me: the Betrayal of Billie Holiday - BBC Radio 2. 10.30pm - 11.30pm
To mark next week's 50th anniversary of her death, Neneh Cherry tells the story of how the jazz-blues legend was betrayed by her manager, resulting in a near-ten-month spell in prison for narcotic offences.

Wednesday 8th July

TV

The Professionals - ITV 4. 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Bodie and Doyle are assigned protection duties.

On the Buses - ITV 3. 6.50pm - 7.25pm
Stan and Jack are chosen to go on a training course.

Carry On Laughing - ITV 3. 7.25pm - 8.00pm
Farcical comedy sketches.

Legends: the Andrews Sisters - BBC 4. 8.00pm - 9.00pm
Queens of the Music Machines. Profile of the group.

Minder - ITV 4. 8.00pm - 9.00pm
Arthur's safe is targeted by an old acquaintance.

Film: Buster (1988) - BBC 1. 11.30pm - 1.10am
Biographical crime drama, based on the life of Great Train robber Buster Edwards, starring Phil Collins. A small time crook gets a chance to move into the big time.

Thursday 9th July

TV

Minder - ITV 4. 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Arthur's safe is targeted by an old acquaintance.

On the Buses - ITV 3. 6.55pm - 7.25pm
Stan and Jack take out a boisterous group of school children.

Carry On Laughing - ITV 3. 7.25pm - 8.00pm
Comedy sketches.

Psychoville (4/7) - BBC 2. 10.00pm - 10.30pm
In an episode based on the classic Hitchcock thriller Rope, David and his mother Maureen are interrupted in their killing spree by the arrival of a visitor and must keep the caller from finding the body in the trunk.

Legends: Josephine Baker - The First Black Superstar - BBC 4. 10.30pm - 11.30pm
Documentary about the iconic black entertainer who was a pioneer in every sense of the word and whose impact on the cultural history of the twentieth century was profound.

Urban Embroidered Cushions

Simon Seabright has designed a series of four Urban Embroidered Cushions which feature Americana images most often associated with the 1950s.

Bowl features a bowling alley, skittle and bowling ball. Love Shack features a motel with a neon sign. Gas Station shows a typical American gas station. Possibly the most interesting is the Donuts option which shows a picture of a donut store which can be personalised with your own name.

The cushions measure 65cm squared and cost £95 each. They can be bought from Rockett St George.

Olli & Lime "George" Wallpaper

Olli & Lime make products for children and they suggest that their George Wallpaper is used in a nursery or child’s bedroom. But I think it could work just as well in a child-free household.

The paper is available in a choice of two colours; milk chocolate or lime green, decorated with white stylised flower patterns. The chocolate colourway in particular could be used in any adult room. The wallpaper costs £35 per 52cm x 10m roll.

You can buy online directly from Olli and Lime.

Original BTC 1930s-style Hector table lamp

We have covered Original BTC previously (specifically for the company's Paxo pendant light), but we've just spotted this superb piece of reproduction 1930s design from the same team - the Hector table lamp.

Yes, despite the look, this is a modern design, but with a distinctly 1930s look from that glossy metallic base and adjustable shade, chrome stand and best of all, the woven flex, which is a great finishing touch.

Three sizes are available (small, medium and large), along with various colour options. Prices start at around the £97 mark.

Find out more at the Holloways of Ludlow website

Cath Kidston Box Floral Kite

The sun is out, the sky is blue, so why not indulge in that suitably old school pastime of flying a kite with this Cath Kidston Box Floral Kite.

Yes, every bit the kite you remember as a child, only this one comes in Kidston's signature floral print for a slightly more 'girlie' feel than your average blokey kite.

Complete with red ribbon tail, you can pick one up at the Cath Kidston site, priced at just £10.

Find out more at the Cath Kidston website

Reebok 1980s Freestyle Hi Basquiat trainers

An 80s shoe that's also a tribute to iconic 1980s artist - the Reebok Freestyle Hi Basquiat trainers.

We're not sure whether these are fashion or art - obviously you can wear them, although that chunky 80s profile is something as many people will hate as love. Or you could just put them on display - with each shoe featuring 1980s Basquiat street art all over (body, sole, laces, tongue and straps) and a Basquiat signature inside.

Choose from two colours (black or white), both selling for 110 Euros. See over the page for a view of the white from a different angle.

Find out more at the Colette website

Tiny Modernist cross stitch

If you are a cross stitch beginner and felt the Emily Peacock kit featured a couple of weeks ago was too ambitious, perhaps the Tiny Modernist cross stitch designs offer a better place to start? Tiny Modernist, who actually specialise in modern clothing for kids, have produced several designs to help you recreate modernist icons, including the Eames lounge chair and the van der Rohe Barcelona chair as shown above. Also available are patterns for sewing mid-century houses, a sailor type tattoo or retro telephones. 

For $4 you are emailed a PDF file which contains the actual pattern and details of all the threads to be used. A tiny investment for a tiny potential masterpiece. 

See them online

Dee and Ricky Lego belt buckle

If you like your lego, Dee and Ricky offer the opportunity to wear your art on your sleeve with their range of accessories crafted from the humble bricks, including this belt buckle. The New York based duo creations, which also include hair bows and heart brooches, were featured in a Marc Jacobs show last year and are now available to buy directly from their own website. 

Using the bright building blocks as a starting point means there is all manner of colour combinations to select from for the buckle. The prices are a bit higher than your average lego starter kit though with the buckle costing $85 and the actual belt an additional $10. 

Buy it online

Eighties Style Spot Dress from Miss Selfridge

The 1980s was a decade known for co-opting retro era trends and putting its own slant on them. This Miss Selfridge dress is a great example of how the eighties put its own stamp on a very fifties look, the wiggle dress.

The form fitting wiggle shape and spot print keep the fifties them going, while the fabric choice and off the shoulder look make this an instantly eighties hit. Using larger spots instead of polka dots, this has the fun, bubbly look of the era with a sexy edge.

Get it from Miss Selfridge now for £28.

Find out more from the website

Reversible Clerkenwell Mac from Hobbs

Classic macs are always a retro wardrobe staple, but finding a coat with an extra retro touch is always worth your while. This Hobbs Clerkenwell Mac has classic styling with an injection of sixties chic.

With a sleek, linear spot print, this coat stands out without being too over the top for everyday wear. The high neckline and rounded collar are subtle details that provide a mid sixties style. This coat provides an extra edge of versatility as it's reversible, turning into a plain black classic.

Get it online from Hobbs for £169.

Find out more from the website

Original Little Bird vintage fabric bags

Original Little Bird is a Norwich based company, who as well as producing their own fabric design, make lovely bags from vintage fabrics. While this isn't an innovative concept in itself, the bags are well finished with a taffeta lining and have a simple zip fastening so manage to avoid looking too cutesy. Their greatest strength is the fabrics used which date from the 1950s and 1960s and are all bold and striking.

The bags come in two sizes, but the number available and the prices vary depending on the abundance of the fabric. For example, the bag pictured uses Lucienne Day's Trio print and, because of its relative rarity, will cost you £45. Prices for the rest of the range start at £18. 

See the full range online

Turn your iPhone into a vintage HP scientific calculator

Want to do something retro with your distinctly modern Apple iPhone? You could change it into a vintage scientific calculator, courtesy of this HP app.

For the calculator obsessives out there, you can change the touchscreen of your iphone into a HP 12c, HP 12c platinum or HP 15c scientific calculator, each one a replica in terms of both layout and functionality, so perfect for boffins wanting some old school cool. Also if you turn it around, you get the same calculator with a difference layout (vertical to horizontal), although that also means you can't type rude words by flipping it upside down.

Depending on your choice of calculator, prices range from $14.99 to $29.99.

HP website (via Design Boom)